How to prepare for a full ADHD assessment

Read the provider's instructions first

Providers use different appointment formats and forms. Check who should attend, whether an informant is requested, what identification is needed and how records should be sent. If the assessment is for a child, ask what school information is required.

Build a short timeline

Note when the difficulties were first noticed and how they appeared at different stages. Adults may find old school reports, comments from relatives or a history of repeated changes in education and work helpful. Absence of old paperwork does not automatically prevent assessment, but tell the provider what is unavailable.

Choose examples with context

For each main difficulty, note what happens, how often, the effect and what support you use. Include areas that go well too. A specialist is assessing the whole pattern, not counting failures.

Try to cover more than one setting, such as home and work or home and school.

Prepare health information

Have a current medication list and relevant physical and mental health history. Mention sleep, anxiety, depression, substance use, trauma, learning differences and other diagnoses where relevant. These are not reasons to hide the possibility of ADHD; they are part of making a safe differential assessment.

Decide what you want to understand

Write down your questions. You may want to know how the provider reaches a decision, what happens if ADHD is not diagnosed, whether treatment is included and how communication with your GP works.

A full assessment should consider the evidence with you. You do not need to perform a stereotype or arrive certain of the answer.

Sources

• NICE guideline NG87: diagnostic assessment
• NHS: what happens at an adult ADHD assessment